ECUADOR: QUITO + AMAZON + GALAPAGOS CRUISE in Ecuador
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At a glance
Please quote code 98271 in all correspondence.
- Accommodation: Hotels
- Holiday type: Package Tours, Cultural Holidays
Facilities available
Description
14 Nights
From £5995 per person sharing (Flights quoted separately)
This wheelchair accessible Galapagos holiday will introduce you to the amazing wildlife of these unique islands, as well as the Amazon rainforest & Quito in Ecuador. Visit the Avenue of the Volcanoes, Ingapirca Ruins & lovely Cuenca. You need upper body strength for this vacation, as you will transfer into an adapted off-road wheelchair (with helper provided) on rough terrain. All specified sightseeing included.
Highlights:
- Quito + Ecuador vacation
- Ingapirca ruins
- Snorkelling
- City tour + centre of world
- Cuenca
- Wheelchair accessible Galapagos
- Amazon river rafting
- Galapagos holiday
- Avenue of the volcanoes
- San Cristobal island
Day 1
You will be met at Quito Airport and transferred to your hotel in this historic Spanish colonial city that straddles the equator and is today a World Heritage Site.
Check in and relax in this capital city in the Andean Highlands, with its many museums, monasteries and churches with golden altars. The prosperous centre of the Kingdom of Quitu during the 13th century, and later the northern capital of the Inca Empire, it has a setting that few cities in the world can match.
Day 2
This morning we visit the equatorial monument that marks the Centre of the World at latitude 0º - about 16 miles (25 km) north of Quito. Here you can get a photo straddling the line that separates the northern and southern hemispheres. There is also a colonial-style tourist village complete with main square, church, post office, bullring and gift shops.
After lunch (own account) enjoy a Quito City Tour through the cobbled streets and main square of the historic Colonial Quarter - the largest and best preserved in South America.
Take in its magnificent colonial architecture as you stroll along Independence Plaza - including the Cathedral, President's Palace, Archbishop's Palace and the Municipal Building. You will see many mansions, monasteries and churches, and can visit the Church & Convent of Santo Domingo. You can also view the spectacular Church of the Society of Jesus ('La Compañía de Jesús) with its awesome gilded interior and the Monastery of San Francisco. This is one the of greatest religious buildings of the New World, with its impressive façade and atrium leading to a Moorish-influenced baroque interior and winged Virgin of Quito at its main altar. This lovely city also has many cosmopolitan galleries and boutiques filled with contemporary paintings, sculptures and exquisite traditional crafts.
Note: Quito is situated at high altitude (9,350 ft / 2,850 m) so proceed slowly. Not all sites are accessible, but your guide will do his best to give you good views of the highlights. As you will be visiting churches (except on Sundays, when this is not permitted), do not wear shorts or mini skirts as these are not allowed.
Day 3
This morning we leave Quito and drive 3-hours towards the amazing Amazon Basin - a 2,7-million square mile (6.7 million sq. km) conservation area that is the largest in the world, spreading across nine countries - Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and French Guyana.
Along the way we can stop at a Hummingbird Station to watch these beautiful vibrant birds in their natural habitat, before continuing to our jungle lodge.
After lunch at our lodge, we spend 3-hours visiting an indigenous Kitchwa Community to learn about their customs and traditions.
Note: Visits to the Amazon are only possible if you have upper body strength & use a manual wheelchair, as you will need to transfer into a boat seat on the river and into a specially adapted off-road wheelchair when covering rough terrain. The chair has long handles at the front (similar to a rickshaw) as well as regular handles at the back. You will be assigned an assistant to pull your chair from the front, while your travelling companion pushes from the back.
Day 4
A full day excursion today, as we travel to the Napo River for 2.5-hours of river rafting in a private zodiac along this tributary of the Amazon, which has some Class 2 rapids.
Admire the surrounding flora and fauna from the river - truly one of the best ways to experience the magnificence of the Amazon. During the trip we will stop at several points of interest to take pictures and relax on the river. You may spot monkeys, caiman (a small alligator) and will see much colourful birdlife, including herons and kingfishers, as well as large birds such as toucans, parrots and macaws.
Afterwards we visit the small town of Tena, which is surrounded by verdant cloud forest. This is the main centre of this region and here you can get a feel for the life led by the local people of the Amazon. It is also possible to visit an indigenous Cacao Association to learn how they process cacao into chocolate.
Note: You will raft accompanied by a security kayaker and need to wear a safety jacket and helmet. You can transfer in and out of the boat using a sliding board or you can be lifted in.
Day 5
This morning is devoted to exploring the secondary Amazon Rainforest with an indigenous guide, who will explain more about the rich flora of this region and its many medicinal plants. The path into the rainforest can take from 30-minutes to 2-hours, depending on the number of stops you make along the way.
As you walk through the woods of this secondary rainforest to the waterfall, you can marvel at the magnificent trees and the extraordinary variety of orchids, bromeliads, ferns, begonias, lichens and mosses that grow here. You can observe some of the colourful birds of the rainforest such as the brilliant golden-headed quetzal, grey-breasted mountain toucan, blue-crowned motmot, umbrella bird, blue-banded toucanet, fruit-eating tanager, red-crested cotinga, banded-tail fruit-eater, harpy eagle, hoatzin, manakin, crested owl, pigmy owl and a variety of flycatchers. You may even see a caiman, turtle, woolly monkey, tufted brown capuchin monkey and a variety of frogs and insects.
In the afternoon we travel to the small town of Banos (meaning 'baths'), situated at the foot of Tungurahua Volcano. This is the source of the thermal springs that give this town its name. On arrival we explore the town and visit the hot springs.
Note: In the Amazon you will transfer into the specially adapted off-road wheelchair, with handles for helpers at both front and back.
Day 6
This morning we explore more of Banos and take a 30-minute cable car ride across an enormous gorge for stunning views of the surrounding countryside, with a ziplining option for the adventurous (pay locally).
After lunch in Banos (own account), we travel 3-hours through the stunning Avenue of the Volcanoes to Riobamba, a small town surrounded by five volcanoes and known as the 'Sultan of the Andes' - with photo stops along the way.
The Avenue of the Volcanoes is formed by two parallel chains of the Andes Mountains that travel the length of Ecuador, rising to dramatic peaks. Eight of the highest mountains in the country are found in this spectacular region, as well as several dramatic volcanoes. The snow-capped Cotapaxi Volcano dominates the landscape and on clear days offers a magnificent backdrop. It is an almost perfect cone rising to 19,347 ft (5,897 m), making it the highest active volcano in the world.
Note: Only manual wheelchairs are allowed on the cable car, as you will need to be lifted in your chair.
Day 7
This morning we depart from Riobamba and spend a full day exploring stunning Andean landscapes, as we travel 5-hours to the beautiful colonial city of Cuenca. A local restaurant lunch is included today.
Along the way we pass a section of the Devil's Nose (Nariz del Diablo) railroad. The biggest obstacle to the construction of the Trans-Andean railroad was this mountain, which has almost perpendicular walls. To overcome this obstacle, a zigzag railroad was built that climbs more than 500 m in less than 7.5 miles (12 km), with steep ascents and descents. Today it remains an impressive feat of engineering.
We then continue through dramatic Andean landscapes and Indian towns, where you can experience the traditional life of the indigenous farmers. We can also see llamas being farmed.
Our final stop is at the Inca archaeological complex at Ingapirca. Although much smaller than Machu Picchu in Peru, these are the best preserved pre-Colombian ruins in Ecuador. Built on a promontory high above the Cañar valley, this ancient Inca stone fortress has several trapezoidal doorways and stone walls that fit perfectly together, without the use of any mortar. A large elliptical platform, known as the Temple of the Sun, was once used for religious and astronomical purposes. You can view the barracks, the stone Inca Face and various carvings of gods with animal forms. There is also a small on-site museum.
Afterwards we continue to the charming colonial city of Cuenca, known for its stunning architecture.
Note: Ingapirca Ruins are closed on a Monday and Tuesday. The surface is a mix of stones and soil, which can get very muddy after rains. There are also a few sets of 3 to 4 steps, but most of the site is relatively flat.
Day 8
This morning enjoy a tour of Cuenca, the third largest city in Ecuador, which retains a pleasant provincial air with its red-tiled roofs, cobblestone streets, flowery plazas and museums..The historic centre of this beautiful city is a World Heritage site.
We start at San Sebastian Plaza - a colourful artisans’ market where handicrafts are sold, including Ecuador's famous Panama hats. Here you can see the Museum of Modern Art, which was originally a House of Temperance where alcoholics were imprisoned behind these thick walls in an effort to cure them. We also visit San Francisco Plaza, where small handcraft shops can be visited and the exquisitely embroidered skirts of the local Cholas Cuencanas can be purchased. The Flower Market is situated on a small plaza in front of the carved stone entrance to the church of El Carmen de la Asunción. From here it is a short stroll to the main square, surrounded by the imposing blue-domed Cathedral, the Court of Justice, the Municipal Palace, the Governor’s Palace and the Church of El Sagrario.
After an included lunch at a local restaurant, we drive 1-hour to the high altitude moorlands ('paramo') of El Cajas National Park, a protected area starting at 10,000 ft (3,000 m) above sea level with grassland covering most of its terrain. This tranquil region, with its stunning landscapes, shows the remains of intense volcanic activity and glaciation. Although the wind and drizzle can make it very cold, the scenery surrounding these 235 lakes is splendid for walking and observing flora, fauna and bird life. The cold lakes are full of trout and the dwarf forests of quinoa trees (a high protein grain) are home to many species of birds - including hummingbirds, gray-breasted mountain toucans and magnificent Andean condors. There is also a good chance of seeing wild llamas here.The highest point is reached at Three Crosses watershed, from where rivers flow into either the Pacific or the Atlantic Ocean.
Note: Cuenca has cobbled streets so not all areas may be easily accessible.
Day 9
Today we leave Cuenca and descend 4-hours to tropical Guayaquil on the Pacific Coast, stopping along the way at a banana plantation.
This important port is the largest city in Ecuador with a vibe that is Caribbean, in marked contrast to the Andean region. On arrival enjoy a tour of the highlights of this cosmopolitan city situated on the Guyas River. This prosperous city has a very tropical atmosphere and rich history, with wonderful museums, a modern shopping district and many excellent restaurants.
We visit several of the city's highlights, including the Malecon 2000 Simon Bolivar Boardwalk. View the splendid Moorish Clock Tower, Crystal Palace and the La Rotonda historical monument. Seminario Park features exhibits on local life during the 19th century and is also home to many land iguanas. Santo Domingo church, built by Dominican friars, is the oldest in the city. Also view Santa Ana Hill, the picturesque neighborhood where the city was founded and the artistic neighbourhood of Las Peñas.
Time permitting, you can also visit the Museum of Anthropology and Contempory Art (pay entrance fee locally).
Day 10
Transfer to Guayaquil Airport for your flight to the spectacular Galapagos Islands.
You will be met at San Cristobal Airport and transferred to your hotel in this spectacular archipelago, situated on the equator in the Pacific Ocean. These volcanic islands, located 560 miles (900 km) west of the Ecuador mainland, are famous for their vast number of endemic species studied by Charles Darwin during his historic voyage on the Beagle, which contributed to his Theory of Evolution by natural selection.
San Christobal is the easternmost island in the archipelago and is named after Saint Christopher, the patron saint of seafarers. Consisting of four extinct volcanoes fused together, it has a small lake called El Junco that is the only fresh water source in the islands. The main town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno is the capital of the Galapagos. Check into your hotel in this astonishing marine reserve, where the wildlife does not seem perturbed by human visitors - allowing for extremely close-up encounters.
In the afternoon we visit Loberia Beach, which is home to a sea lion colony. Around the shore you may see brown pelicans, sea iguana and a myriad of sea birds. You may also see sea turtles while snorkelling from the beach.
Note: Visits to the Galapagos Islands are only possible if you have upper body strength & use a manual wheelchair. As there is no lifting equipment at the airport, you will be carried on and off the aircraft using an aisle chair. You will transfer into a specially adapted off-road wheelchair when covering rough terrain.
Day 11
This morning we visit the highlands of Cerro Colorado on the island’s southern shore. Here we visit the Giant Tortoise Breeding Centre (Galapaguera) that is working to introduce more of these endangered creatures into the wild. Situated in a deciduous forest, this sanctuary is home to the San Cristóbal mockingbird and the San Cristóbal lava lizard - both of which are island endemics. It is also home to dozens of other bird species including Yellow warblers, many species of finches and the Galapagos flycatcher.
Our afternooon is spent exploring the waters around San Cristobal Island - either by kayak (with a local helper steering from the back seat) or by small boat, with safety vests provided. This provides a great opportunity to get close to playful sea lions, blue-footed boobies and other Galapagos marine life.
Note: You will transfer into a specially adapted off-road wheelchair when covering rough terrain.
Day 12
Enjoy a full day shared yacht excursion today (7 to 8 hours) as we travel 1.5-hours each way to Kicker Rock, a volcanic rock formation consisting of two vertical rocks that ascend from the water off the southwest coast of San Cristobal island.
If you wish, there is the opportunity to snorkel in this deep ocean channel and see more of the unique sealife of these islands up close - including sea lions, marine iguana, sea turtles, rays, blue-footed boobies, frigates, masked boobies and many multi-coloured fish. Flotation aids, safety vest, goggles and harness will be provided and you will be accompanied in the water by an experienced swimmer, enabling you to snorkel freely and enjoy this astonishing marine life.
In the late afternoon we return to San Cristobal Island.
Note: Maximum 12 people on the boat. You will be lifted into the boat in your manual wheelchair, before transferring to a regular seat in the boat. If you wish to snorkel, you will be lowered into the sea using a beach chair off the back of the boat and lifted up the same way.
Day 13
Today is free to relax at your hotel or return to one of the lovely beaches of San Cristobal Island.
Your guide will be available to help you with any specific request, including assisting with the off-road wheelchair in need.
Day 14
Transfer to San Cristobal Airport for your flight to Guayaquil.
You will be met at Guayaquil Airport and transferred to your hotel in this important port, that is the largest city in Ecuador. Here the vibe is Caribbean, in marked contrast to the Andean region.
Note: As there is no lifting equipment in the Galapagos, you will be lifted on and off the aircraft.
Day 15
Transfer to Guayaquil Airport for your flight home.
Information last updated: 07/12/2023 12:26:07